Music display and collaboration system

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems for music display and collaboration. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a tablet computer includes a first display unit with a front surface, a display device mounted in the front surface, and a first back surface. The tablet computer also includes a second display unit with a front surface, a display device mounted in the front surface, and a back surface. Finally, the tablet computer also includes a hinging assembly coupling the first display unit to the second display unit. The hinging assembly defining an axis of rotation that allows each display unit to rotate about 360° around the axis of rotation with respect to the other display unit.

1. A tablet computer comprising:
 a first display unit comprising:
 a first front surface; 
 a first display device mounted in the first front surface, the first display device capable of displaying electronic sheet music; and 
 a first back surface; 
 
 a second display unit comprising:
 a second front surface; 
 a second display device mounted in the second front surface, the second display device capable of displaying electronic sheet music; and 
 a second back surface; and 
 
 a hinging assembly coupling the first display unit to the second display unit, the hinging assembly defining an axis of rotation that allows each display unit to rotate about 360 ° around the axis of rotation with respect to the other display unit; and 
 a first setting wherein the first display unit and the second display unit operate in conjunction with one another when attached; and 
 a second setting wherein the first display unit operates completely independent from the second display unit and the second display unit operates completely independent from the first display unit when detached from one another. 
 
   
   
     2. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a closed configuration where the first front surface is rotated about 0 ° around the axis of rotation with respect to the second front surface and the first front surface is adjacent to the second front surface. 
   
   
     3. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an open configuration where the first front surface is rotated about 360 ° around the axis of rotation with respect to the second front surface and the first back surface is adjacent to the second back surface. 
   
   
     4. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an open configuration where the first front surface is rotated between about 0 ° and about 180 ° around the axis of rotation with respect to the second front surface. 
   
   
     5. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an open configuration where the first front surface is rotated between about 180 ° and about 360 ° around the axis of rotation with respect to the second front surface. 
   
   
     6. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless connection that facilitates communication between the first display unit and the second display unit. 
   
   
     7. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the hinging assembly is configured to allow the first display unit to be uncoupled from the second display unit. 
   
   
     8. A tablet computer comprising:
 a first display unit; 
 a first display device coupled to the first display unit, the first display device capable of displaying electronic sheet music; 
 a first video camera coupled to the first display unit; 
 a first video display window configured to display video in real-time on a portion of the first display device; 
 a first speaker coupled to the first display unit; 
 a first microphone coupled to the first display unit; 
 a second display unit; 
 a second display device coupled to the second display unit, the second display device capable of displaying electronic sheet music; 
 a second video camera coupled to the second display unit; 
 a second video display window configured to display video in real-time on a portion of the second display device; 
 a second speaker coupled to the second display unit; 
 a second microphone coupled to the second display unit; 
 a hinging assembly coupling the first display unit to the second display unit, the hinging assembly having an axis of rotation which allows each display unit to rotate about 360 ° around the axis of rotation with respect to the other display unit; 
 a first setting wherein the first display unit and the second display unit operate in conjunction with one another when attached; and 
 a second setting wherein the first display unit operates completely independent from the second display unit and the second display unit operates completely independent from the first display unit when detached from one another. 
 
   
   
     9. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a wireless connection that facilitates communication between the first display unit and the second display unit. 
   
   
     10. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the hinging assembly is configured to allow the first display unit to be uncoupled from the second display unit. 
   
   
     11. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first display unit is configured to capture video through the first video camera and transmit the video in real-time over the wireless connection to the second video display window. 
   
   
     12. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first display unit is configured to capture audio through the first microphone and transmit the audio in real-time over the wireless connection to the second display unit which is configured to play the audio in real-time on the second speaker. 
   
   
     13. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first display unit is configured to capture video through the first video camera and concurrently capture audio through the first microphone and transmit the video and audio in real-time over the wireless connection to the second video display window and play the audio in real-time on the second speaker. 
   
   
     14. A tablet computer for electronically storing, displaying, and manipulating sheet music and video conferencing, the tablet computer comprising:
 a first display unit comprising:
 a first display device coupled to the first display unit; the first display device capable of displaying electronic sheet music; 
 a first video camera coupled to the first display unit; 
 a first video display window configured to display video in real-time on a portion of the first display device; 
 a first speaker coupled to the first display unit; and 
 a first microphone coupled to the first display unit; 
 
 a second display unit comprising:
 a second display device coupled to the second display unit, the second display device capable of displaying electronic sheet music; 
 a second video camera coupled to the second display unit; 
 a second video display window configured to display video in real-time on a portion of the second display device; 
 a second speaker coupled to the second display unit; and 
 a second microphone coupled to the second display unit; 
 
 a hinging assembly coupling the first display unit to the second display unit, the hinging assembly having an axis of rotation that allows each display unit to rotate about 360 ° around the axis of rotation with respect to the other display unit, wherein the hinging assembly coupling is configured to enable the first and second display units to be selectively hingedly coupled together or to be selectively detached from one another; 
 a wireless connection that facilitates communication between the first display unit and the second display unit; 
 a first setting wherein the first display unit and the second display unit operate in conjunction with one another when attached; and 
 a second setting wherein the first display unit operates completely independent from the second display unit and the second display unit operates completely independent from the first display unit when detached from one another. 
 
   
   
     15. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the hinging assembly is configured to allow the first display unit to be uncoupled from the second display unit. 
   
   
     16. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first display unit is configured to capture video through the first video camera and transmit the video in real-time over the wireless connection to the second video display window. 
   
   
     17. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first display unit is configured to capture audio through the first microphone and transmit the audio in real-time over the wireless connection to the second display unit which is configured to play the audio in real-time on the second speaker. 
   
   
     18. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first display unit is configured to capture video through the first video camera and concurrently capture audio through the first microphone and transmit the video and audio in real-time over the wireless connection to the second video display window and play the audio in real-time on the second speaker. 
   
   
     19. The tablet computer as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the second display unit is configured to capture video through the second video camera and concurrently capture audio through the second microphone and transmit the video and audio in real-time over the wireless connection to the first video display window and play the audio in real-time on the first speaker.